Got to baptize Joseph!

Hey everyone! 

Well, it was a good week. Definitely not as fun as my family's but it was still good. You would be surprised just what goes on in a single day here. Hahaha. But the family trip seemed really fun! I am jealous I missed it! But it is okay. 

iIt was the last week of the transfer. Things were good! We had some big ups and some small downs. I will just go on to tell you all about it.

So the low of the week. I haven't really been telling you much about this. I have been battling a knee injury for the majority of my mission. Maybe months back I mentioned it. It comes and goes every few weeks. The area doctor thinks I strained my Lateral Collateral Ligament as well as the tendons in that area. Every time it hurts I just ice it, rest and take ibuprofen. Well, lately it is getting worse. Now, not only does the ligament hurt but the joint does too. It feels like there is no cartilage in my knee and it just grinds when I walk. I told Sister Collings about it yesterday and have an appointment at the hospital tomorrow to get it professionally checked. These days it is just bothering me constantly. I can't even sleep at night. So, I will find out tomorrow what I can do to make it better!

Our area is doing well. We got our transfer news. Elder Barnum and I are staying together and receiving a 3rd companion! His name is Elder Henriksen. He loves japanese anime, drawing, showing love to people, video games, etc. But he is soooo  fun to be around and really easy for me to get along with. We will all enjoy! Our area is doing good still too. Joseph was baptized on Friday and Confirmed yesterday!!! It was great. Bishop wanted to postpone the baptism for a week or two but we had him meet with Joseph. After the meeting he just said he is super ready and to baptize him! Joseph asked me to do it. I was so happy to! But the water was freezing! We found a few new investigators. One is from Burundi. Another is half French half Rwandese. And another is from Rwanda! All are pretty solid. This week we will be doing more finding. Our teaching pool is getting a bit smaller so we have to work on it! 

Can't wait for this coming week. I am just gonna patiently wait for a call from Chris (Tim's fellow colleague and professor - he is going to Kampala for work). I am excited to meet him! I hope he can meet up with us for a minute and we can talk. Plus I am excited to get my stuff! Thanks for sending that!

Woah....Morgan is married! Congrats to him! Also, shocked as ever to hear about Wyatt Osmond's mission call.... WOWOWOW!!!! That is crazy!!! More shocked than I am to hear about Luke's call! I hope he is ready! Again, tell him he is more than free to email me! Yay for Africa missions.

I loved the spiritual thought today from dad. I wrote it down. Thank you for that!  (see below)

Okay that is it. Short and sweet this week. Hope you have a good week!! 

Love you all!

Love,

Elder McLain

*The spiritual thought 

Vision without effort is daydreaming, effort without vision is drudgery; but vision, coupled with effort, will obtain the prize.

Needed is the capacity to make the second effort when life’s challenges lay us low.

“Stick to your task ’til it sticks to you;

Beginners are many, but enders are few.

Honor, power, place and praise

Will always come to the one who stays.

“Stick to your task ’til it sticks to you;

Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it, too;

For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile

Will come life’s victories after a while.”

From “Finishers Wanted,” Elder Thomas Monson, April 1972

Be a finisher buddy!

 Joseph's Baptism

 Foggy Kampala

 Chickens

 umm.........

 From the yard to the table

Yum!